THE REAL ESTATE
Total area: 14 million sq. km (just less than 1.5 times the US)
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows, pastures: 0%
Forests, woodland: 0%
Other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%)

"Men Wanted: for Hazardous Journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success."—Ernest Shackleton's Ad

THEN THERE'S THE WIND
The cold of the interior, the domed shape of the continent and intense low pressure systems around the coast combine to create Antarctica's powerful katabatic winds, some of the strongest winds on earth, often exceeding hurricane force (120 km/h) for several days at a time. Maximum gusts of more than 250 km/h have been recorded.

SURVIVAL
Heat loss increases dramatically with increases in wind speed. You can walk outside in short sleeves in -40°C if it is absolutely calm but you may require the thickest of layers at -5°C if the wind is above gale force. Even the wind generated by walking can cause frostbite. Fingers, toes, ears, cheeks and nose freeze most easily.

WE KNEW IT HAD TO BE SOMEWHERE
Ninety percent of the world's ice (29 million cubic km) and 60 to 70 percent of its fresh water is locked up in the Antarctic ice cap.

TAGGING THE POLE
In 1911, Roald Amundsen, with four companions and 18 dogs, was the first to reach the South Pole after a 57-day journey. He planted a Norwegian flag at the Pole and left a note for competing explorer Captain Robert Scott whose team, bitter with disappointment at finding they had been outpaced, were trapped by severe weather on the returning trip and perished.